Secure diamond smart cards and exchange systems therefor

ABSTRACT

A tamperproof diamond package comprises a package body; at least one chip embedded in the package body and at least one antenna configured to enable communication with the chip; anti-counterfeiting visual impressions on the package body; a diamond pouch formed at a predetermined section within the package body; and 
     one or more diamonds located inside the diamond pouch and an outer covering encasing the package body and configured to reveal any tampering with the one or more diamonds located in the diamond pouch. The diamond package can be credit card shaped and also contains serial number and website information and be provided in nominal dollar values. An associated diamond exchange system utilizes the diamond packages and provides a registration server which stores unique identifying information that enable interrogating the individual diamond packages and checking their authenticity with the registration server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of and priority to Provisional PatentSer. No. 61/938,923 filed Feb. 12, 2014 and Provisional Patent Ser. No.62/022,365 filed on May 23, 2014, the contents of both of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system and method forauthenticating and tracking expensive objects and, more particularly, toa system and method of packaging, trading, and creating a marketplacefor standardized value, precious stone packages and to various securityauthentication features and elements related thereto.

The world stock trading exchanges provide a very easy and convenientmedium for issuing and trading in company shares. It is also easy totrade in certain well-known coins or in standardized bars of gold andthe like. Their value can be easily traded and no specific orparticularly difficult authentication processes of the merchandise isnecessary.

This is not so at all with respect to precious stones, particularlydiamonds. The prices of seemingly identical diamonds can vary in priceconsiderably. Valuation of diamonds cannot be done on the spot.Authentication of diamonds that are actively traded poses an especiallyserious problem of authentication, including the substitution of fake ornon-genuine diamonds for real diamonds, given the thousands of dollarsprice tag of individual diamonds. There is a need and desire in themarketplace for technology and a system that enable rapid, secure andimpersonal exchanges that permit the purchase of diamonds in a veryreliable and secure manner.

Presently, creating a marketplace in diamonds is compromised bycounterfeit items in the supply chain or channels. The possibility ofcounterfeits creates the potential for unacceptable losses topurchasers, causing friction in trade and limiting the market to fewsophisticated participants. What is needed is a way for customers toreliably authenticate the item, i.e., a standardized package ofdiamonds, before purchase, using technology widely in use by consumersworldwide, namely through the use of an Internet-ready cell phone. Asecond difficulty with creating a marketplace for diamonds is thatowners may typically want to store their diamond merchandise with athird party, for example, a diamond warehouse, but require an authentic,convenient and highly reliable system for ascertaining that the specificgoods are being held as agreed, without relying on the naked assuranceof a third party alone. The creation and wide acceptance of such diamondexchanges and markets would further benefit from introducingstandardized diamond packs of known or nominal monetary values thatcould be purchased and/or exchanged in unitary quantities without muchregard to the parameters of the individual diamonds in each pack. Such astandardized marketplace product(s) would enable people to invest theirassets in standardized diamond packets knowing that these assets arehighly liquid and easily sold, traded, and/or converted to other assetcategories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amarketplace for diamonds that is highly secure and reliable.

It is another object of the invention to provide a diamond packagingformat that is extremely secure and totally invulnerable to tamperingwith the diamond merchandise stored therein.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a worldwide,Internet accessible system and marketplace for exchanging diamonds basedon standardized values of diamond packets.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are realized with asystem and method that processes and handles tamperproof diamondpackages wherein each diamond package includes: a package body; at leastone PUF chip embedded in the package body and at least one antennaconfigured to enable communication with the PUF chip;anti-counterfeiting visual impressions on the package body; a diamondpouch formed at a predetermined section within the package body; and oneor more diamonds located inside the diamond pouch and an outer coveringencasing the package body and configured to reveal any tampering withthe one or more diamonds located in the diamond pouch.

In preferred embodiments, the package body comprises a thin, credit cardshaped body with a thickness that is not greater than 0.25 otherdimensions associated with the package body. Further, the body shape isrectangular and includes at least a serial number and websiteinformation that directs a user to a website that is configured toenable checking the authenticity of the diamond packages. Preferably,the diamond packages have a nominal dollar value that can be $10,000.00,$40,000.00, and/or $100,000.00. Other nominal values are, of course,possible.

To further prevent tampering or counterfeiting of the diamond packages,the body can include a distribution of microspheres that create a uniquevisual image in each package that is different from any other image onany other diamond package. The microspheres can be produced from naturalor synthetic materials and can be made of glass, a polymer or ceramicmaterial.

A diamond exchange system according to the invention operates incombination with the diamond packages and includes one or more entitiesthat package and make available the diamond packages and a registrationserver that stores unique identification information for each of thediamond packages and provides an interface to members of the public thatenable providing to the registration server responses to interrogationsignals submitted to any given diamond package. The registration serveris also enabled to carry out an authentication process that verifies theauthenticity of the given diamond package. The system may also includean auxiliary verification server that is configured to enable accessingdiamond authenticity certificates that identify the features of thediamonds in the given diamond package. The system may also include aninventory warehouse, an associated server, as well as a further serverthat provides current pricing information.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention that refers tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a smart card style diamond package.

FIG. 2 a shows a pictorial rendition of a diamond smart card packagefrom the front view thereof.

FIG. 2 b shows the rear view of the smart card diamond package of FIG.2( a).

FIG. 2 c shows a thickness cross-section of the diamond smart cardpackage.

FIG. 3 shows a security measure for the diamond pouch on the smart card.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a smart card diamond package in accordancewith a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an algorithm in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a further system block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 8 c and 8 d show detail of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 9 a, 9 b, 9 c and 9 d show still further details of the embodimentof FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 a is a diagrammatical side view showing a preferred embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 10 b is a top view of a portion of FIG. 10 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the diamond card 10 of the present inventioncomprises a generally rectangular, credit card shape device which isrelatively thin and which has a body 12 with embedded visual patterns 14that prevent counterfeiting. Also embedded in the card 10 is a PUF(physically uncontrollable feature) chip 16 which can be interrogatedvia first and second antennae 18 and 20 that enable communication andinterrogation via the mobile device 11 as further described below. Theinterrogation can be via NFC (near field communication) and/or RFID(radio frequency identification) interfaces in well-known manner. Thediamond package 10 also includes visual identification information 22,for example, serial number, bar code and other descriptive information.One portion of the body 12 defines a transparent pouch 26 in which arevisibly housed diamonds 30 at a thickened portion 24 of the diamondpackage 10.

A key feature is the PUF chip 16. For this invention, one can utilizethe PUF chip provided by Verayo Technologies, which operates under U.S.Pat. No. 7,681,103 (“Reliable Generation of a Device That Has SpecificValue”). The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,103 are incorporated byreference herein. The technology of PUF chips has been developing over anumber of years and is also described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos.2010/0122093; 2003/0063772; 2010/0121315; 2008/0237506; and2008/0112596. The entire contents of said patent publications(identified in the preceding sentence) are incorporated by referenceherein.

As is known, at a microscopic level, no two silicon PUF chips areidentical. Unavoidable and uncontrollable variations at the molecularscale make each chip unique. The micro variations are detected andregistered for the encrypted authentication process, as more fullydescribed further on. Each chip provides a unique algorithmic responseto random challenges.

In accordance with well-known technology, these chips can beinterrogated by a mobile device, e.g., the mobile device 11, whichcontains the appropriate interrogation software, including bycommunicating with the diamond package 10 via an NFC interface to thePUF chip. An NFC interface enables communication at a close proximity(0-5 inches) via wireless transceivers, already known from theirapplication in smart phones for authentication or check-in or check-outof individual units. A purchaser of the diamond card 10 can thentransmit a challenge to receive a response from the PUF chip and verifythat response with a third party.

The authentication can be via an RFID interface as well, which enablescommunication at a slightly larger distance of approximately 0-50 inchesvia the wireless transceivers. It too can be used for authentication andinventory taking of a large number of items in a particular warehouselocation or container.

The smart phone 11 can utilize cellular or WiFi connectivity andinterface to the PUF chip 16 and authenticate the diamond card 10, bycommunicating with the third party server via known publicly encryptedcommunication methods.

The authentication server in such a case would maintain a secure andencrypted database of unique chip parameters. These parameters includethe activation and unique challenge/response algorithm for every PUFchip registered at the server. The server will generate a randomchallenge for each chip upon presentation and confirm the expectedencrypted response. Spoofs of PUF chips cannot be prepared because thechallenge is random. In addition, the authentication server may have areference photograph of the physical placement of the diamonds on thegiven diamond card, whereby a visual inspection and confirmation ofauthenticity provides additional protection.

The etched serial number 36 (FIG. 2 a) on the authenticated diamond card10 can be utilized for inventory tracking by consumers and furtherfacilitates identification.

The invention can also include providing a locked cabinet space 76 (FIG.4) which is fitted with an internal RFID transceiver; shelving,containers and is dimensionally supportive of reliable RFID scanning ofa quantity of RFID tags, with transceiver(s) connected to anauthenticated internet board. The cabinet 76 may include unique PUF chipor chips known to the authentication server which can be all verifiedthrough the internet.

Referring to FIG. 2 a, this embodiment of a diamond card 42 has a frontface 41 with a visual pattern 32 and an embedded PUF chip 33 and itsrelated antennae, as well as a diamond pouch 26 in which are embeddedeight diamonds. The diamonds 30 are encapsulated by an outerclear/transparent plastic or glass, with front and rear plastic or glasslayers. Also note the visual serial number 36. The front face 41 of thecard 42 shows the table and crown facets of the diamonds 30.

Referring to FIG. 2 b, there is also shown a similar layout withadditional information including multiple language instructions 38directing users/owners to “authenticate” the package at the identifiedtrusted website, for example, www.sww.com, at which the registrationinformation and authentication data is available.

In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 c, it can be seen that thediamonds 30 are held in openings in a central sheeting material 44 andthe thickened portion 43 of the card 42 where the pocket 30 is defined.

In general, the diamond smart card 42 of FIG. 2 a is preferably formedin an ISO 7810 format with the two passive wireless powered integratedcircuits and antennas, preferably with a package size of about 85.6mm×54 mm×1 mm. Various additional security measures may be provided, forexample, laser inscription and hologram technology may be provided onthe card surface, including adjacent to or inside the diamond pocket 30,whereby any attempt to tamper with the contents as by attempting toreplace the diamonds with different diamonds would be futile. The basiccard and diamonds are inserted into a 7-10 mil plastic sleeve,heat-sealed at the edges to close permanently. Ink technologies can beincorporated in the package which would cause bleeding of the ink on anyattempt to tamper with the package and so provide further counterfeitdeterrence or at least tampering evidence. The card-like diamond packagecan have some deflection ability similar to a credit card or the like.

For an added security measure, reference is now made to FIG. 3 whichshows the diamond pocket 30 from the rear face of the diamond cardshowing basically the pavilion end (culet) of the diamonds 30 and amaterial 31 which is interspersed between the diamonds and which isintended to provide an added security measure. Preferably, the material31 consists of microspheres having diameters of a fraction of amillimeter, in an array of colors with some diameter variations, alladmixed. When the card 10 is manufactured, these microspheres 31 arespread between the diamonds 30, preferably in a single layer. Theyprovide a completely random 3-dimensional, visual signature which isimpossible to duplicate lithographically and absolutely unique to eachpackage. A visual high resolution photograph of the back side of thediamonds card is also registered, and each purchaser can check thepackage in his/her hand and compare the visual appearance with thestored image. If there was any tampering with the diamond package, itwould be impossible to recreate the random microsphere distribution andunique color pattern. Simply choosing any spot of, for example, a 3 mm×3mm area will immediately reveal whether it is identical to the originalimage and comprised of microspheres. The package can be provided with afew marker points 33 that allow quick orientation of the visualcomparison to the real object image. Alternatively, the material 31 canbe precious stone dust in various colors. Lastly, the visualauthentication step can be carried out automatically by uploading aphotograph taken by the mobile device 11 to the registration server 62(FIG. 4).

FIG. 4 provides an overall system diagram of the present invention.Thus, the card manufacturer 52 produces the blanks of the card body withthe PUF chips already embedded with the various serial numbers andvisual printing thereon, leaving empty the pouch location 30. The supplyof blank cards 54 are purchased by the final card packager and issuer 56which selects a number of diamonds, for example 8, as indicated on theface page of the card 42 (FIG. 2 a), and selects the diamonds to have anaggregate market value of say $10,000.00. This type of a card has anominal $10,000.00 value upon issuance. Preferably, the cards 58 alsolist a “date of issue” which indicates that it has/had the nominal valueon that issue date. Also, a small pack of low point diamonds may beincluded with the 8 main diamonds to cause the value of the card tobasically equal the nominal card value on the date of issuance. Thesepacked diamond cards 58 are then listed on the issuer's/packager'spublic server 60. The advertised diamond packs are available forpurchase by members of the public 64.

When (or even prior to) a member of the public 64 has purchased one ofthe diamond cards 58, that card is immediately recorded with theregistration server 62 and during that process not only the PUFinformation is provided from the issuer 56 (or alternatively from thecard manufacturer 52), but a visual high resolution photograph of thediamonds and their various GIA or similar certification information arealso placed and recorded on the server 62. The server 62 therebydevelops a growing database 70 of diamond cards which have beenpurchased by the public 60.

The public does not necessarily have to buy the diamond packages fromthe issuer(s) 56. That is, as the market will develop, members of thepublic 64 can advertise their individual packages on the marketplaceserver 66 to enable other members of the public to trade with themdirectly relative to these registered diamond card packs, utilizing theverification process noted above, which only requires using the mobilephones 11 to authenticate the received package(s) by communicating withthe server 62 and verifying that the PUF chip identity and the visualimages are authentic. Another form of verification comprises inspectingthe physical diamonds with a loop or other magnifying device andcomparing the inclusions on the diamonds in the package, and othercharacteristics such as their color, carat weight, cut, etc. against theGIA or other certificates also on store.

The marketplace server 60 also allows its users to communicate with apricing information databases 68, for example, Rappaport reports, andother data sources to complete the verification process and commercialtransaction. When a member of the public 64 is satisfied that whathe/she is purchasing is authentic, payment can be effected through aPaypal or other third party secured server 74 which holds the funds andpays them when authorization is provided from the member of the public64. The warehousing facility 76 allows the members of the public 64 tostore their merchandise thereat, so that they do not have to be kept athome or in private safes and the like. It should be noted that the cardpackager 56 may advertise to the public 64 its requirements for variousdiamond sizes and qualities for producing the diamond cards, which willallow the public to offer to the packager 56 the discrete diamonds forpurchase, further expanding the overall market in diamonds.

The standardized packages do not have to have an initial nominal valueof $10,000.00. Preferably, they will be issued at several nominalvalues, for example, a $10,000.00 card, a $40,000.00 card, and a$100,000.00 card. Once the cards are issued, they can be traded andprices paid for them subject to the fluctuations of the diamonds market,based on the actual diamonds in each package. Also, the number ofdiamonds in the package may be higher or lower than the number shown inthe described embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a diamond smart card 120 inaccordance with the present invention may be comprised of eightsandwiched layers and a diamond cup, as described below. In FIG. 5, acore section 122 of the diamond smart card 120 comprises five layers,including a clear PVC layer 122 a measuring about 0.05 mm; a whiteprinted PVC layer 122 b measuring about 0.152 mm; a white PVC with apocket for an RFID interface and PUF chip, measuring about 0.458 mm; awhite printed PVC layer 122 d measuring about 0.152 mm; and a clear PVClayer 122 e measuring about 0.05 mm. The core layers all have arespective circular cutout 122 f accommodating therein a diamond cup 126which is a plastic injection of a PVC foam insert that holds thediamonds. The diamond cup 126 also passes through an optically clearadhesive layer 124 measuring about 0.0127 mm and is further received ina bottom layer 130 which is a vacuum formed back with a pocket 130 a forthe diamond cup 126 and which measures about 0.152 mm in thickness. Thetop of the smart card 120 is covered by an optical layer 128 of clearpolycarbonate material measuring about 0.152 mm.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an algorithm which is intended to preventspeculation and arbitrage schemes by members of the public 64 whichmight interfere with the ability of evolving a true market in thestandardized diamond packages of the present invention. For example,members of the public 64 might systematically query the server 60 for noother purpose than to learn the precise nature, identity and makeup ofthe diamonds in the diamond cards 58 that are being offered by the cardpackager 56. The purpose thereof might be to create a catalog of thosediamonds and select out and remove from circulation specific packageswhich a speculator or an arbitrageur might perceive to offer a priceadvantage over the standardized packages.

Accordingly, the flowchart of FIG. 6 provides an optional algorithm thatwould prevent such speculation or arbitrage activities by presentingmembers of the public 64 who visit the diamond card server 60 with thequestion (at step 82) whether they wish to buy an available diamond cardon a “closed” transaction or an “open” transaction basis as indicated atdecisional step 84. The preference of the invention is that people buythose cards on a “closed” transaction basis similar to the manner ofpurchase of rough diamonds packages offered by De Beers. However, ifsomeone wishes to actually see the physical diamonds in a particularpackage using the “open” transaction, the flowchart takes the potentialpurchaser 64 to step 104 at which the buyer can be presented with achoice of perhaps a hundred smart cards to sift from, which may beidentified only by serial numbers and issue dates and nominal values.When the purchaser picks one particular serial number, he will be shownthe details of that card at steps 106, 108 and 110, upon paying aviewing fee, for example, five percent payable for the right topre-examine and possibly reject the given card.

At step 112, the potential purchaser must indicate whether she wishes tobuy the particular diamond card. If not, the potential purchaser isasked at step 116 whether she wishes to examine other diamond cards. Ifnot, the process ends at step 100. If yes, then the process returns tostep 104 and the potential purchaser is asked whether he wishes to seeanother card package, and so on. If the potential purchaser does wish tobuy a selected package, he proceeds along the line 114 to the payingprocess at step 88.

Retracing to the decisional step 84, if a potential buyer indicates thatshe desires a closed transaction, then at step 86, the buyer is chargedthe nominal price for the card and pays for that card at step 88.Thereafter, the buyer receives all the information fully identifying thediamonds and other information associated with the particular card atstep 90. At decisional step 92, the buyer is asked whether he wants theactual, physical card delivered to him or, instead, maintain thepurchased card in storage, for example, at the warehouse 76. If thebuyer opts for storage, then at step 94 that particular purchaseddiamond card is processed for being sent to storage. The buyer mayreceive instead a counterfeit-proof, pseudo card which is associatedwith the actual diamond card that has been purchased. If at any time apurchaser wishes to receive the physical card, he can receive it, asindicated in step 98, by returning the pseudo card. This enables tradingin the pseudo cards without the need to ship or deliver the physicaldiamond cards. The process ends with the step 100, as previously noted.

On the other hand, if a purchaser asks for physical delivery, then, asindicated in step 102, physical delivery will be made within a set timeperiod, for example, ten days, thereby preventing speculation andarbitrage attempts. If anyone wishes the card to be overnighted to them,then they must pay a premium; for example, five percent, which againdiscourages mere speculation and arbitrage activities.

The algorithm and process of FIG. 6 is, as noted above, intended toinstill in the marketplace the idea that diamond cards of the samedenominations are fungible and that it would be futile, as well asexpensive and time consuming, to purchase these cards in order to breakthem apart to retrieve the physical diamonds therein for speculative orarbitrageur purposes.

As also indicated in FIG. 6, the public may also access a database 78associated with the server 60 (or which may be accessible through othersources that publish an index of diamond prices) for cards previouslyissued) to obtain current prices by reference to the issue date thereof.For example, a card that was issued Feb. 10, 2014 might be indicated inthe price database 78 to have gone up, say, 5.6%, thirty days later,based on benchmark records or public information that indicate for eachtype of stone the appreciation (or depreciation) the given diamonds haveexperienced since their issue date.

The cards as described above are indicated to be of a certain nominalcard value as of their issue date. It may be difficult to achieve orimplement that nominal card value with just the 8 diamonds in thepackage. To solve that problem as well, the invention herein alsocontemplates including within the diamond cup a pack of small sized chipdiamonds with an aggregate value of, for example, a few hundred dollars,so as to bring the total value of the diamond card very closely to thenominal value, on the day that the card is issued.

In this connection, also note that when a purchaser has purchased aparticular card which has a nominal value of, say, $10,000, but ispurchasing it sixty days after the issue date printed on the card face,one could consult the database 78 and pay a price which might beslightly higher (or lower) than the nominal value, since the diamonds inthe card may actually have appreciated or depreciated in the sixty daysinterim. This can be done seamlessly with an APP stored on theBuyer's/Seller's mobile phone or desktop computer or tablet device, etc.

Referring to FIG. 7, in accordance with a further embodiment of theinvention, the overall system adds a title insurance facility or module61 which can be associated with the diamond card server 60. Purchasersof the diamond cards 58 will be provided with title insurance whichprotects them regarding the authenticity and other attributes of thediamond cards. Alternatively, members of the public 64 can arrange theirown title insurance and pay for it themselves, if they exchange diamondcards amongst themselves.

Referring to FIG. 8, in accordance with a further embodiment of theinvention, a diamond card 810 comprises a base 820 in a form of aceramic back, with a peripheral wall (preferably rectangular) whichhouses at the left side thereof, a ceramic cup 822 at the bottom ofwhich may be provided the PUF chip 840 with its PUF chip antenna or NFCfacilities 816 which are located at the bottom of the ceramic cup 822. Adiamond holder 822 sits at the bottom of the ceramic cup and has theholders/settings for holding a plurality of diamonds 826. The ceramiccup 822 is closed off by a sapphire or a gorilla glass cup cover 828with a card core 830 over it with an exposed window 831. Finally, asapphire or a gorilla glass outer cover 832 seals in and closes off theceramic back in a manner which will create visible marks and which willdestroy the PUF circuit if any attempt is made to penetrate into thecard to replace or tamper with the diamonds therein.

FIGS. 8 a through 8 d show details of the diamond card embodiment ofFIG. 8.

FIGS. 9 a through 9 d show further details of the diamond cardembodiment of FIG. 8.

The diamond card, which may be known by its various trademarks,including V^(o)ULT, SECURED PASSPORT, DIAMOND COIN and other trademarksis a globally portable store of wealth, based on laboratory-certified,investment-grade diamonds. The card is small enough to fit discretely ina pocket and easy to authenticate and price. The diamond cards can beconveniently liquidated anywhere in the world.

The diamond package seals laser inscribed diamonds inside a robustceramic and advanced electronic device the size of a credit card.Wireless integrated circuits fused inside, a micro-printed signature,laser inscription and other technology, electronically and physicallycharacterize the state of the art diamond instrument. The diamonds cardscan be opened and destroyed to recover the diamonds, but cannot bemodified, duplicated or imitated.

The diamond card can be viewed in part as an appreciable hard asset, adiamond investment, also as a commodity and, in addition, as a beautifulcollectible card which can function as a secure, portable, privateliquid investment. The combination of certified diamonds, portability,authentication and security, along with transparent pricing and globalliquidity defines the product. It is a compact, portable assetmarketable through an exchange and a transferable store of wealth.

As described above, the invention uses PUF (physical uncontrollablechips) to provide unique characteristic in each diamond card, that canbe checked by the chip circuitry responding to unique and randomchallenge codes. The two antennas provide a wireless communication andaccess to the PUF chip and their NFC and RFID technology provideelectronic and visible manufacturing complexity that is difficult if notimpossible to mimic. Similarly, the inscribed serial number is visibleand easily read for purposes of identification in inventory taking. Thecode itself may be chosen from among the chip's production serialnumber, randomly assigned or assigned based on its type, or year ofpackaging and other relevant information. Overall, the physicalinscription process is difficult to mimic or alter being that it islocated under the surface of the card.

In accordance with a preferred method of fabrication, the instantinvention has been reduced to practice, utilizing the following steps:

-   -   1. A smooth and firm silicon mold formed with a high polished        steel positive mold and forming a matrix of disc-shape cavities        is initially prepared. Each cavity, which may be referred to        herein as a puck cavity, preferably has a dimension of about 30        mm in diameter and 8 mm in depth.    -   2. Each cavity is filled with a quantity (preferably 0.75 cc) of        a resin top layer, preferably using a two-part optically clear        urethane resin. This layer forms a lens and the process allows        the lens layer to cure and be stored for later use.    -   3. At a time of assembly, a quantity, preferably 1.5 cc, of        resin is injected at a depth equal to the dimension of diamonds        from the table to the crown.    -   4. Several diamonds are placed into each puck position, table        down and arranged artfully.    -   5. A quantity of microspheres is sprinkled into the resin in a        manner that ensures separation and sinking to the bottom.        Preferably, the microspheres are 500 micrometer red glass        microspheres at 2.50 g/cm³. These are sprinkled into the resin,        The number of microspheres preferably numbers about 8 to 15        microspheres, but clearly more or less can be used.    -   6. Each puck location is thereafter filled with more resin in a        quantity sufficient to cover the culets of the diamonds. The        resin is then cured for about one hour.    -   7. A white resin layer is placed atop the previously cured layer        and an NFC tag is placed therein and covered with white resin to        an exact total height specified, using a measuring laser to        control the fill volume. Preferably, 0.5 cc of the white resin        is injected. The white resin is cured for about six hours, or        for about two hours, when an oven is used.    -   8. The puck with the diamonds, microspheres and NFC tag therein        is removed from the silicon mold.    -   9. Each diamond puck is subsequently mounted in a card container        with an RFID card, as previously described.

When formed as described above, the diamond card of the presentinvention provides various benefits including an attractive consumerdisplay, an ability to positively identify individual stones via theirinscriptions and defect characteristics and high portability in that thediamonds are packaged in a small disc-shaped puck of about 30 mm×9 mm.

The embedded NFC tag preferably comprises a 25 mm wound antenna and anNXP Semiconductors Mifare DESFire EV1 2K chip, which supports 848Kbits/s data transfer through NFC, 168 bit 3DES hardware encryption and2K of memory.

This chip is programmed with a server challenge key, the publicencryption key to the card's authentication service, and informationabout the DIAMOND COIN puck. During an enrollment of any given diamondcard, access circuitry in the EV1 is “burnt out”, making it impossiblefor an attacker to alter the encrypted program or content.

The encryption data for the EV1s is managed by a Safenet Luna HSM(Hardware Security Module). The authentication proof never leaves theencrypted hardware of this equipment. The card's Authentication App is amobile phone App which enables communication between the EV1 chip andthe system's Server, enabling collecting authentication evidence, suchas the location of photographs of the particular DIAMOND COIN.

The basic authentication process proceeds as follows:

-   -   1. With the phone's NFC feature enabled, the user scans the vULT        card, and communication with the NFC tag is opened. Basic        information such as the serial number, product model and stone        count is read by the app.    -   2. The EV1 challenges the vULT authentication server and        provides its serial number using the server's public key.    -   3. The authentication server responds to the challenge using        that EV1's public encryption key.    -   4. Through this fully encrypted connection, the server sends a        random challenge to the EV1, which returns a unique response. If        correct, the EV1 is authenticated.    -   5. As part of the authentication process, the user takes a new        photo of the DIAMOND COIN with the vULT Authentication App. If        the expected number of diamonds was detected by the app's        analysis, through the encrypted connection, this photo is        uploaded to the Authentication Server.

Using an image analysis system, the sample image is analyzed andcompared to a reference photo of the particular DIAMOND COIN takenduring manufacture.

The count, size and elective positions of the diamonds, and the countand relative positions of every taggant is statistically comparedbetween the original and the sample. When a total match score isachieved, which is deemed to be sufficient for authentication, then theimages and, indirectly, the particular DIAMOND COIN is authenticated.

Thereby, the DIAMOND COIN of the present invention provides theadditional benefits of wireless authentication, via smartphone NFC, ofthe embedded, encrypted silicon chip. The product is highly tamperresistant and tamper evident. The taggants randomly embedded in theresin form a unique visual fingerprint. The exact geometry of thediamonds and the taggants which have been pre-photographed and whichcomport to a reference are virtually impossible replicate.

With reference to FIG. 10 a, one can note the top layer which forms thelens, and the next layer in which the entire diamonds are embedded, withthe microspheres shown at a location above the pavilion, along the crownsections of the diamonds. In the partial top view of FIG. 10 b, one cannote three diamonds and eleven red microsphere taggants, the locationsof which is random and statistically impossible to replicate orcounterfeit.

As described above, the diamond packaging technology and itsaccompanying system including the various web based computer servers andentities will be recognized by the reader to have created a new paradigmfor the owning, marketing, exchanging diamond merchandise in a mannerwhich very closely mimics the public exchanges for securities, coins,gold bullion and the like. The invention will enable individuals toinvest part of their assets in diamonds and the marketplace for diamondswill grow much larger and allow individuals access to a new investmentvehicle. The card technology also has a value as a store of wealth andmethod of exchange for valuables other than diamonds.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tamperproof diamond package, comprising: apackage body; at least one chip embedded in the package body and atleast one antenna configured to enable communication with the chip;anti-counterfeiting visual impressions on the package body; a diamondpouch provided at a predetermined section within the package body; andone or more diamonds located inside the diamond pouch and an outercovering encasing the package body and configured to reveal anytampering with the one or more diamonds located in the diamond pouch. 2.The diamond package of claim 1, wherein the package body comprises athin, credit card shaped body with a thickness that is not greater than0.25 other dimensions associated with said package body.
 3. The diamondpackage of claim 2, wherein the body shape is rectangular.
 4. Thediamond package of claim 2, wherein the visual impressions includes atleast a serial number, and website information that is configured toenable checking the authenticity of the diamond package.
 5. The diamondpackage of claim 2, wherein the one or more diamonds comprises aplurality of diamonds having an aggregate price equal to a nominaldollar value.
 6. The diamond package of claim 5, wherein the nominaldollar value comprises one or more $10,000.00, $40,000.00 and$100,000.00.
 7. The diamond package of claim 2, wherein the package bodyincludes a distribution of microspheres that creates a unique visualimage in each package that is different from any such image on any otherdiamond package.
 8. The diamond package of claim 7, wherein themicrospheres have respective diameters that measure less than or equalto 1 mm, on average.
 9. The diamond package of claim 7, wherein themicrospheres are manufactured from one or more of a natural, asynthetic, a glass, a polymer, and a ceramic material.
 10. The diamondpackage of claim 9, wherein the microspheres are made of one ofpolyethylene and polystyrene.
 11. The diamond package of claim 2,wherein the diamond pouch includes a distribution of precious stone dustin multiple colors laid out in discrete dust particles.
 12. A diamondexchange system, operating in combination with the diamond packages ofclaim 1, and a system comprising: one or more entities which package andmake available the diamond packages; a registration server which storesunique identifying information for each of the diamond packages andwhich provides an interface to members of the public that enableproviding to the registration server responses to interrogation signalssubmitted to a given diamond package and carries out an authenticationprocess that verifies the authenticity of the given diamond package. 13.The system of claim 12, including a marketplace server that isconfigured to allow members of the public to list diamond packages forsale or to submit purchase requests for diamond packages to bepurchased.
 14. The system of claim 12, including an auxiliaryverification server which is configured to enable access in diamondauthenticity certificates that identify the features of the diamonds inthe given diamond package in order to obtain the information of thephysical diamonds in the given diamond package.
 15. The system of claim12, including an inventorying warehouse and an associated serverconfigured to enable purchasers of the diamond packages to store theirdiamond packages thereat.
 16. The system of claim 12, including at leastone price information server that enables automatic pricing of diamondspackaged in any one of said given diamond packages.
 17. A method offorming a tamper-proof diamond package, comprising the steps of:preparing a card-shaped package having length, width and thicknessdimensions and forming in the card body a diamond puck location; andforming a diamond puck for installing into said puck location, saiddiamond puck formation including: i) forming at least one formationcavity; ii) injecting a top layer in said cavity comprising a lens forsaid diamond puck; iii) placing a plurality of diamonds atop said lenswith a table surface of the diamonds facing the lens and substantiallycovering the diamonds with a second layer; and iv) placing a pluralityof taggants into said resin in a manner whereby said taggants areinterspersed between said diamonds and visible from the lens side of thediamond puck.
 18. The method of claim 17, further including applying afurther layer to a culet side of said plurality of diamonds andembedding therein an electronic chip and thereafter, removing said puckfrom said formation cavity and installing in said puck location in saidcard body.
 19. The method of claim 17, including providing the card withan RFID circuit.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising burningthe chip to have a unique identity which is impossible to alter.